Friday, January 22, 2010

Vodafone ZOO ZOO ads.. All in one

Six months ago, Vodafone briefed its agency, Ogilvy India, to create uncommon characters a common thread to link the ads in the campaign together. Rajiv Rao, executive creative director, South Asia, Ogilvy India, tells afaqs! that the only starting point for the team was that the character had to be simple to a stupefying level. And thus, the Zoozoo was born.

No, they arent animated characters. They are human beings who were made to wear body suits. The design of the characters is such that one gets fooled into thinking it is animation, shrugs Rao, which was indeed the very illusion that had to be created. In a sense, it is live animation! he quips, referring to the fact that it was all shot live.

Prakash Varma, ad filmmaker, Nirvana Films, has directed the commercials, and reveals that the Zoozoos were a big challenge to create. The practical aspects of how they will move, talk, gesticulate and emote were very important. Essentially, costume design and artwork were crucial elements.